Rhode Island officials are asking dog owners to make sure their pets are vaccinated against distemper, a normally rare disease that has been confirmed in a raccoon on Prudence Island. The state Department of Environmental Management said canine distemper was recently found after residents reported a large number of raccoons acting strangely and numerous deaths. Authorities ruled out rabies, but tests came back positive for distemper. The rapidly spreading disease does not affect humans, but it can infect raccoons, coyotes, and foxes. (AP)